Electrolytic production of white lead



Oct. 24, 1933. H. G. HILLS ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION OF WHITE LEAD Original Filed May 28, 1932 Patented Oct. 24, 1933 I r V v 7 1,932,160 I ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION OF WHITE LEAD Horace Gastineau Hills, Stockport, England Original application May 28, 1932, Serial No. 614,211, and in Great Britain October 15, 1931. Divided and this application December 6, 1932. Serial No. 645,989

2 Claims. (Cl. EMF-5) This invention relates to the electrolytic prothe electrolytic cell or cells, the electrolyte being duction of white lead by the employment of an atomized in suitable apparatus external to the aqueous electrolyte containing a nitrate such as cells in the presence of carbon dioxide and theresodium or other alkali metal nitrate in solution. after returned to the cells. By this method of 5 This case is a division of my copending applicasecuring c rb the electrolyte y be tion Serial No. 614,211 filed May 28, 1932. maintained substantially fully charged with car- The invention comprises the improved conbon dioxide while passing through the cell and struction and arrangement of electrolyzing appaits action in the cell may thus be rendered uniratus as hereinafter described and claimed. form.

, In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is aplan Within limits the amperage, voltage and con- 5 view and Figure 2 an elevation with parts broken centration of salt in the electrolyte are mutually away, of an electrolyzer in accordance with the inter-dependent factors. invention. Preferably, with an electrolyte containing in The electrolyzer vat or cell comprises an antesolution 1% of nitrate of soda, the electrodes chamber or compartment a, a depositing chamare spaced /2to apart, the current density 0 er I) and an exit chamber 0, there being vertical employed being as a minimum amperes and partitions d and e dividing the depositing chamusually amperes or more. The. anodes are lead. ber 12 from the other chambers which are at its The employment in the electrolyte of a colloid opposite sides. The electrodes f are slid into versuch as glue operates to prevent the production of tical slots or grooves in the adjacent faces of said spongy lead and in this and in other ways has a partitions d and e. The electrolyte enters and favourable influence upon the character of the leaves the depositing chamber by way of holes g product. and h respectively located between the vertical If desired, the electrolyzer may be arranged for slots so that the electrolyte is caused to flow bea downward flow of electrolyte instead of a horitween the electrodes from side to side of the zontal how. 80 chamber. The total cross sectional area of the The electrolyte may consist of an aqueous sosaid holes is proportioned with relation to the lution of sodium nitrate to which has been added 7 rate of inflow of electrolyte to the ante-chamber a proportion of awater-dispersible colloid, for to ensure a substantially even flow through all instance glue or gelatine. The glue or gelatine the holes. In practice I have found that if the may be used as a 0.01% solution in water. About 'holes are of excessive total area with relation to 4 pounds of gelatine or glue are used in the pro- 0 the quantity of electrolyte being passed, the rate duction of one ton of white lead.

of flow between some of the electrodes may be so Preferably, the electrolyte consists of a weak slow that the carbon dioxide is used up before solution of sodium nitrate, containing, for exthe electrolyte reaches the exit chamber, resultample, 0.75 to 2 percent of sodium nitrate. 0

- ing in unsatisfactory working of the electrolyzer The electrodes f are spaced at a distance of and the production oi amixed or inferior deposit. to apart, and the applied current has The electrolyte by being passed through both a density of from 20 to 25 amperes per square an ante-chamber a and an exit chamber 0 at the foot of immersed cathode surface. The anodes opposite sides of the depositing chamber 2) has are lead. A small proportion of formic acid, 5

its flow steadied with the result that in conjuncwhich may be in the form of a 1% solution in tion with the proper proportioning of the holes 9 water; may be added to the electrolyte to corand it giving access to and exit from the depositrect the alkalinity which may develop in the ing chamber, I am able to obtain uniform deposits electrolyte.

White lead What I claim is: The electrolyte which leaves the electrolyzer 1 An electrolyzey for t electrolytic produciS 'eea ll 'a e With Carbon diOXide, y being tion of white lead comprising, in combination, a

t m in the Presence of Carbon dioxide, d depositing chamber, an antechamber at the inlet returned to the ante-chamber. side of the depositing chamber, an exit chamber Generally, fer Securing a ion 0f the 6160- at the outlet side of said depositing chamber,

trolyte with carbon dioxide atomization of the partitions between said depositing chamber and electrolyte in the presence of gaseous carbon disaid exit and ante-chambers, vertical electrodes oxide is alone resorted to, and to secure the 'necesdisposed parallel and in close proximity to one sary conditions for effecting saturation the another in said depositing chamber and at right electrolyte is maintained in circulation through angles to said partitions, and means delivering no chamber, vertical electrodes extending parallel and in close proximity to one another between, and at right angles to, said partitions which are grooved to support the electrodes and apertured to permit the electrolyte toflow uniform streams through the'spacesbetween' the" electrodes from the anteto the exit-chamber.

HORACE GASTINEAU HILLS. 

